The Kayan are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic minority group of Myanmar. They are also called the Paduang, which is a local Shan Term. Inle Lake is located in the Shan State of Myanmar.
The brass coils are placed around a girls neck starting around age five. Coils are replaced with longer coils and the weight pushes the collar bone down and creates the illusion of a stretched neck. There are a few different theories as to why and how this began including; less attractive to other tribes, protect women from becoming slaves, resemblance to dragons (dragons are very important in Burmese folklore), and to protect them from tiger bites.
There is a family living in Inle Lake and they are weaving on their backstrap looms.. making an income and sending it back to their family. From what I understood.. many tourists want to see them but most of these areas are not open to travel.. and many Kayan have fled to the Thai border as refugees.
These women have come to here to the lake. where tourists visit to weave and answer questions about their fascinating culture. I hope in time it doesn't become even more exploited...
Lovely women. Lovely product.
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